Bristol council is consulting on a licensing scheme which could see buy to let investors...

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Yet another local authority looks likely to adopt a licensing scheme for private rental sector properties, described as a bid “to drive up standards and improve the management of private rented accommodation to help tackle anti-social behaviour.”

The Neighbourhoods and Community Service committee of Redbridge council in north east London is set to discuss a proposal for a scheme within the next few weeks.

The authorities says it has “a significant and growing private rented sector” and claims there has been “an increase in concerns from residents and demand for council and other services relating to anti-social behaviour.”

The report to the committee seeks agreement to conduct the first stage of the process, which would be consultation with letting agents, tenants, landlords, residents and businesses that would be affected by the introduction of selective licensing.

The consultation is likely to run from July 25 to October 14; most local authorities that have conducted such consultations have ended up agreeing a scheme, involving levying licence fees on landlords or their managing agents.